Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir

Charles Krug

wine splashing in the glass - Pixabay

Krug is an incredible piece of Napa history but the wines don't take second seat to this fact. Their tasting room is relaxed, low-key and not overdone. They don't need to distract you from their great wines and great staff. 

Williams Selyem Winery

grape cluster

Williams Seylem is an institution. The original cult pinot negociant in America. For pinotfiles this place is a mecca. Since then it has changed hands (and by that I mean about a decade ago). The juice is still superb, sourced from the best vineyards in the area, and service wonderful. Though you've got to be on the mailing list to visit. Appointment required: yes, and you need to be on the list, or find someone who is.

Bressler Vineyards

glasses of wine and grapes with a Chateau in the background - Pixabay

Located in the small, historic town of St. Helena (yes, part of Napa Valley) Bressler like many of its neighbors is a small lot, premium producer of Cabernet Sauvignon. Bressler was started as many wineries do in Napa, with the retirement of an executive from nearby Silicon Valley. Bob Bressler spent his career at Sun Microsystems where he was a visiting scientist and advised the Sun executive team. Bob's wife Stacey is also intimately involved with the day to day operations of the winery and comes to the wine business after her own successful career in the Bay Area high tech market, although her focus was more marketing than it was the technology itself. Small production winery of approx. 500 cases.

Singer Wine at Baker Lane Estate

grape Cluster - Pixabay - a i generated

Stephen Singer founded Baker Lane in 2003 after decades of work in the wine business in the San Francisco Bay area. He was the wine director at Chez Panisse for many years and was married to owner Alice Waters. He has partnered in the restaurants Cesar in Berkeley and Pizza Vino 707 in Sebastopol. Singer farms an estate vineyard just beyond Sebastopol planted to Syrah and Pinot Noir. The winemaker is Steven Canter. Baker Lane wines have some restaurant and retail distribution and are sold online.

Cobblestone Vineyards

wine and cheese - Pixabay

Named after the round stones found in its first vineyard, Cobblestone utilizes the most advanced wine-making technology, using grape varietals best suited for the wine produced.

Cobblestone Vineyards began the growing of wine grapes and wine making in 1971.  Cobblestone is a small family-owned enterprise motivated by a passion-driven philosophy to make the most outstanding wines possible at affordable prices.

Named after the round stones found in its first vineyard, Cobblestone utilizes the most advanced wine-making technology, using grape varietals best suited for the wine produced. There are three vineyards dedicated to the world's most exciting grape varieties, coupled with appropriate French Oak for aging.

The original vineyard of 50 acres in the cool Central Coast of California from the Arroyo Seco appellation produces a dry, vibrant Chardonnay with just a hint of French Oak.

In 1997, a second 25 acre vineyard was added in the appellation called Atlas Peak, located on a mountain range at about 1,500 feet above sea level on the East side of Napa Valley. The volcanic soil, elevation, and climate conditions produce a world class Cabernet Sauvignon and a small allotment of Petit Verdot.

De Tierra Vineyards

De Tierra Vineyards tasting room in Carmel Village

De Tierra Vineyards

Monterey and Carmel are beautiful places to visit at any time of the year. De Tierra Vineyards has a tasting room in the lovely Carmel Village that you just must stop in and experience for yourself. Join Alix and her team to experience some wonderful wines. The De Tierra winemaking team works hard and with passion to produce "in the glass" wines that define the vineyard that the grapes came from without a lot of manipulation during the process. Experience the end results for yourself at De Tierra Vineyards and tell them California Corks sent you. If you love Reds, be sure to try the Russel Estate Cab Franc and the Monterey Pinot Noir. Whites, SLH Chardonnay and Monterey Riesling.~

Hours:

Mon     2:00 to 8:00 pm
Tue      2:00 to 8:00 pm
Wed     2:00 to 8:00 pm
Thu      2:00 to 8:00 pm
Fri      12:00 to 8:00 pm
Sat     12:00 to 8:00 pm
Sun    12:00 to 8:00 pm

Longfellow Wines

wine and cheese - Pixabay

Longfellow is dedicated to crafting "BIG" yet balanced wines. Their aim is to create wines with deep color and concentrated layers of aromas and flavors, while maintaining balance from start to finish. They strive to produce wines that not only improve with age but also become memorable conversations after a meal. With a small varietal production, Longfellow ensures that each wine is truly handcrafted from vineyard to bottle. Every aspect of the winemaking process is carefully managed to produce wines that are true to their varietal heritage while offering unique expressions of the vineyard and climate in which they were grown.

Quality begins in the vineyard, and Longfellow upholds a commitment to producing wines only if high-quality fruit can be sourced. Their case production is entirely dependent on the availability of grapes from extraordinary vineyards. To achieve this, they have built strong relationships with growers who are integral to their dedication to quality.

Kale Anderson, the winemaker at Longfellow, grew up in Sonoma County and was influenced by a community that fostered creativity, a love for the outdoors, and a commitment to land stewardship. He earned a degree in viticulture and enology from the University of California, Davis. After graduating, Kale worked for Ann and Joe Wender at Colgin Cellars, and held positions at Terra Valentine and Cliff Lede in the Stags Leap District. He later became the Director of Winemaking at Pahlmeyer, where he matured as a winemaker and earned acclaim as one of the youngest in Napa to receive a 100-point score from Robert Parker for the 2013 Pahlmeyer Cabernet Sauvignon Piece de Resistance. After five years at Pahlmeyer, Kale chose to focus on his own label and consult for limited production projects like Longfellow.

Seen as a rising star in the Napa winemaking scene, Kale Anderson is a valuable asset to Longfellow. His energy and dedication to producing exceptional wines and attention to detail form the cornerstone of the Longfellow project. Longfellow is proud to have Kale as its winemaker, embodying the new foundation of their winemaking philosophy and sharing their singular goal of crafting exceptional wines with unique character from distinctive vineyard sites.

Foley Estate Vineyard & Winery

glass of red wine - Pixabay

Located in the prestigious Santa Rita Hills appellation, Foley’s beautiful Rancho Santa Rosa property is home to a 3,500 square-foot tasting room and event center. Located next to the iconic 12,000 square-foot winery building, the Hospitality Center affords visitors spectacular vistas of neighboring mountain ranges, coastal oaks and contoured hillside vines.

stablished in 2001, the Sta. Rita Hills AVA is a remarkable destination for wine lovers, known for its unique, ultra-cool climate. Located in the westernmost section of the Santa Ynez Valley in Santa Barbara County, it lies at the foot of Point Conception, flanked by the Purisima Mountains to the north and the Santa Rosa Mountains to the south. This mountainous terrain forms a significant corridor leading into the Pacific Ocean, influencing the area's climate and terroir.

Wine enthusiasts are drawn to the AVA’s brisk ocean breezes and the late-morning maritime fog that blankets the vineyards, making Sta. Rita Hills one of the coolest growing regions in the world. The varied soil types—including marine sand, loam, clay, and limestone—contribute to the complexity of the wines produced here. Elevations range from near sea level to 1,800 feet, offering diverse microclimates for grape growing.

The region experiences a semi-arid climate, with an average annual rainfall of just 13 inches, primarily occurring between December and May. This allows vintners to extend the “hang time” of the fruit, free from the threat of fall rains that can challenge other Pinot Noir and Chardonnay regions. The extreme conditions, particularly the cold and windy climate, result in low yields, leading to Pinot Noirs with deep color and intense flavor profiles, making Sta. Rita Hills a must-visit for any passionate wine lover.

Thomas Fogarty Winery

Cluster of gapes - ai generated - Pixabay

Thomas Fogarty Winery was founded in 1978 by inventor Dr. Thomas Fogarty and winemaker Michael Martella. Dr Fogarty’s penchant for innovative thought and Martella’s viticulture instincts allowed them to lead the development of the cool Skyline Ridge area; true pioneers in one of California’s premiere Pinot Noir and Chardonnay regions.

Dancing Coyote Wines

clusters of Cabernet Sauvignon - Randy Caparoso

Legend has it, each year at the beginning of the growing season, a band of coyotes from the nearby foothills, sneak into our vineyards, and for no apparent reason other than treachery, chew on our irrigation lines with wild abandon. Following these scandalous acts, they have been known on occasion to join paws and dance around, howling at the moon in celebration.

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